Objects as narratives
Objects that are subject of speculative re-design can preferably be used to raise critical, provocative or speculative ideas to reach results not possible to find with traditional methods.
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”Henry Ford
Applying a speculative re-design to existing objects, and work with interactive and reactive behaviours, allow us to explore the objects as narratives that often result in unexpected social consequences. This in turn raises questions and spark debates about interesting and important topics within the society and our everyday life situations.
Illustrations made from originals by Nicolas Gaudron (electric bath duck) and Jacques Carelman (coffeepot for masochists and tennis basket-ball).
Reflection through interaction
Can re-designed personal objects reinforce young people’s awareness about energy consumption and stimulate a change of their energy behaviour in everyday life? Maybe by giving their personal objects a speculative re-design, which provocative nature suits well in order to achieve reflection through interaction, preferably over a longer period of time to change existing attitudes and behaviours regarding their energy use and consumption.
An investigation was carried out in form of a design project, where the exercise in design methodology played an equal important role as the actual outcome from the design project. Many new and non-traditional design methods were used and explored in a both dynamic and reflective design process.
The design project resulted in three themes of conceptual design proposals, represented by sketches and mock-ups without technical functionality, which all exemplifies how existing personal objects can be re-designed in order to raise energy awareness among young people.
Concept and working prototypes were developed in my Master thesis in interaction design at IT University of Gothenburg.
Bragging beanie
The bragging beanie describes how a modern accessory can be used to measure physical activity and communicate with the environment. Bragging based on performance takes place in many competitive situations and the aim of the beanie is to emphasize this behaviour.
The idea behind the beanie is to capture the speed in which a person is moving and represent this by changing the look of the beanie. The beanie will store and present the top speed that was accomplished. The bragging beanie talks for itself and attracts lots of admirers and makes the carrier of the beanie the centre of attention.
A working prototype was developed in form of a thermo coloured beanie that indicates a number of lines depending on how fast the carrier is moving. More lines represent a faster speed. With signals from a GPS, power from a battery and control by a microcomputer, the bragging beanie communicates with the environment.
Concept and working prototype was developed in collaboration with Helena Dahl, Martin Dalqvist, Yael Katzenellenbogen and Anna Olvenmyr.
Cans of confessions
The Cans of confessions illustrate how tangible user interfaces can, combined with a well-known metaphor, create a new interactive experience. Cans of confessions consist of black, velvet dressed cans that can be in one of two modes ‐ empty or full.
If the cans are empty, the user can take of the lid and leave a confession by speaking into the can and then put the lid back on. When the can contains a message, the user can listen to the confession by eavesdropping with the lid on or by removing the lid.
The user can forgive a confession by turning the can upside down with the lid off and shake it a couple of times. This will release the confession and implicitly forgive the person who made the confession. After the lid can be put back on and be used over again.
Working prototypes were developed by using empty metal cans, microcontrollers, chips to store sound, microphones, loudspeakers, velvet fabrics, diods and accelerometers. Software for the microcontroller was written in order to control the interaction.
Concept and working prototypes were developed in collaboration with Tomas Andersson, Yael Katzenellenbogen and Anna Olvenmyr.
Your personality is unique
How can we inspire both children and adults to wear a bicycle helmet?
Using a bicycle helmet saves hundreds of lives every day; still too few put them on. This is my contribution in form of a poster (originally in combination with small pins, not shown here) that aims to trigger a chain of thoughts in the head of the viewer.
Wouldn't it be cool to show and emphasise a part of my personality through the helmet? How would it look like for other celebrities?
Concept and illustration was developed during an evening class in graphical design at Forsbergs skola in Gothenburg.
Who is this guy?
I am Mattias Ludvigsson, a creative and reflective Experience Designer with a curious and open mind, who transform needs to values along the customer journey - combining user empathy, business impact and product thinking when developing usable digital omni-channel solutions.
Currently I create user experiences for mobile apps and responsive web solutions.
Key skills include analytical and conceptual thinking - coupled with a strong creative direction and a holistic perspective. I have always been in love with conceptual design that explores and challenges our minds with new ideas. On this site I share some of my own ideas.
Concept, illustrations, design, responsive coding of this site was actually done by myself. :D
Get in contact
Feel free to contact me anytime!